Bangkok: The House of Representatives has passed the Ministry of Education's budget, sparking controversy and legal action from the opposition.
According to Thai News Agency, the opposition has filed a lawsuit against the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) following its decision to cut the budget allocated for renovating buildings for special needs children.
Suravat Thongbu, a party-list MP from the Prachachon Party, voiced concerns during the debate on Section 24 of the Ministry of Education budget. He criticized OBEC for allocating the majority of its funds to the "One District, One Quality School" initiative, which he claims favors district schools over others. Suravat warned that this budget allocation could lead to the lowest performance in Thai education in 20 years, particularly as the PISA test approaches for Mathayom 3 students.
Suravat emphasized the disparity in resource allocation, noting that while high school students receive tablets, only a minimal budget is allocated for teacher equipment rental. He argued that focusing resources on district schools, which total just over 1,800, neglects the needs of over 30,000 other schools across Thailand.
Parami Waijongcharoen, another party-list MP from the Prachachon Party, suggested further cuts to the OBEC budget for digital education projects. He argued that the current budget overlaps with future allocations, resulting in an excess of digital media for students and teachers. Parami expressed concerns about the reduction in budget for constructing schools in disrepair, highlighting reports of student injuries and fatalities due to decaying infrastructure.
Ms. Kunlawalee Nopamornbodi, a committee member from the Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party, addressed the concerns over the reduced budget for special education center renovations. She explained that the reduction was due to inconsistencies in the project format and estimates. Kunlawalee suggested that the Ministry could seek additional funds from the central budget to ensure these essential projects for special needs children are completed.
In the end, the meeting concluded with a vote to approve Section 24 as amended, with 253 votes in favor, 121 against, 26 abstentions, and 3 not voting.